Manchester United confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League with a 3–2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. The match was a study in contrasts: an electric opening for the hosts, a period of self-inflicted chaos, and a decisive final act.

Matheus Cunha profited from slack defending in the early exchanges, his shot sneaking past Freddie Woodman after a crucial Alexis Mac Allister deflection. Cunha’s goal was his ninth league strike of the season; it followed his previous match-winning effort at Chelsea where he scored the only goal. Earlier in the campaign Cunha also scored against Arsenal, Leeds United and Aston Villa.

United soon doubled their lead through Benjamin Šeško, who converted after Freddie Woodman fingertipped a Bruno Fernandes header onto the lurking Slovenian. The second goal underwent VAR review amid suggestions of a handball, but the Premier League Match Center said there was ”no conclusive evidence” to rule that Šeško had handled the ball. The decision left Liverpool feeling aggrieved and surprised observers in the stands.

Liverpool, already missing Mohamed Salah, were dealt another blow when Alexander Isak was ruled out with a groin injury sustained in training. With several forwards unavailable, Arne Slot reverted to a 4-2-4-esque setup featuring two false nines. The visitors took advantage of two United errors after the restart, enjoying a strong 15-minute spell and temporarily pinning the hosts back.

Kobbie Mainoo was outstanding in the first half, winning duels and driving United in transition. Despite an uneven second half in which United’s midfielders were often caught ahead of the ball, Mainoo produced a superb finish from the edge of the area to settle the contest and complete United’s first double over Liverpool in a decade.

Bryan Mbeumo, the Cameroonian who had been a key source of goals earlier in the season, was bright in this match as well. Overall, United earned the win in an open, entertaining game that underlined both their attacking strengths and moments of vulnerability.

Kobbie Mainoo’s second-half strike settled a chaotic contest as Manchester United completed their first Premier League double over Liverpool in a decade with a 3–2 victory.

United raced into a 2–0 interval lead through summer signings Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško. Šeško ran the channels and looked fully settled, while Cunha combined grit and tidy possession to trouble the visitors. United’s hold seemed comfortable at half-time, but two errant passes allowed Liverpool back into the match before the hour mark.

Amad Diallo replaced the injured Šeško at halftime, and he notched an assist with his first involvement of the match. However, instead of teeing up a red shirt, Amad’s woeful infield pass was stolen by Dominik Szoboszlai, who ran through and scored. That moment shifted the game, and further miscontrol near the back saw Senne Lammens outfoxed by Alexis Mac Allister, allowing Cody Gakpo to equalize.

Mainoo’s composed finish then swung momentum again. “That’s some way to celebrate your contract extension .” United held on to confirm their place in next season’s Champions League.

Player ratings (Man Utd):
GK: Senne Lammens—4.9: Looked like Lammens would be in for a quiet afternoon with Liverpool struggling to penetrate, but he instead allowed the visitors back into the game.
RB: Diogo Dalot—6.8: Liverpool struggled to contain Dalot’s surges early on, with the right back functioning as a useful attacking outlet. There were far fewer forays once the visitors found a route back into the game.
CB: Harry Maguire—6.9: Undone by Szoboszlai for Liverpool’s first goal, but that was the only notable negative sequence from Maguire.
CB: Ayden Heaven—6.8: There were moments of distinct confidence from Heaven, especially with the ball at his feet. The youngster couldn’t be blamed for United‘s terrible start to the second half.
LB: Luke Shaw—7.4: An injury doubt heading into the game, Shaw started his 35th match of the Premier League season, earning a booking in the process. Shaw was steady enough up against the frantic Jeremie Frimpong, excluding the first 15 minutes of the second half.
DM: Casemiro—7.5: Missed a huge headed opportunity at 2–2, having been a little too eager to run up the score when the hosts held a comfortable lead. It’s not exactly clear what happened to United’s midfield after halftime.
DM: Kobbie Mainoo—8.0: Flow state in the opening period, and was ultimately the match-winner. However, there were concerns in the second half, with both of United’s midfielders getting caught ahead of the ball, allowing Liverpool to wreak havoc on the counter.
RW: Bryan Mbeumo—7.6: His goal contribution drought continued, but there were positives to take from Mbeumo’s performance. The forward’s delivery was crisp, and his smart off-the-ball running often went unnoticed by teammates.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—7.9: The tips of Woodman’s fingers denied Man Utd’s captain his record-equaling 20th Premier League assist of the season. Fernandes’ influence waned after halftime.
LW: Matheus Cunha—8.0: Kick-started an entertaining, quite bizarre soccer match with an early deflected effort. Cunha worked tirelessly and was a threat in the pockets during the first half.
ST: Benjamin Šeško—7.3: Strong end to the season continued on Sunday, even if he didn’t know much about his bundled finish, which surely should’ve been ruled out for handball. Withdrawn at halftime with suspected injury.

Subs: Amad Diallo (46’ for Šeško)—5.6, Patrick Dorgu (76’ for Mbeumo)—6.2, Joshua Zirkzee (87’ for Cunha)—N/A, Leny Yoro (90’ for Fernandes)—N/A. Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount.

Match statistics (Man Utd vs Liverpool): Possession 38%–62%, xG 2.14–0.89, Total Shots 18–13, Shots on Target 6–5, Big Chances 3–1, Passing Accuracy 79%–88%, Fouls 12–11.

Alexander Isak was ruled out of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United with a groin injury, prolonging a difficult debut campaign at Liverpool. Isak had been eased into first-team action during his first three months at the club before suffering a broken fibula against Tottenham Hotspur in December. He did not make another appearance until April and had started to regain form, scoring a well-taken goal against Crystal Palace last weekend, but that momentum was halted.

Arne Slot named a 4-2-3-1 for the trip to Old Trafford: Freddie Woodman; Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch; Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz; Cody Gakpo.

Substitutes: Armin Pecsi (GK), Joe Gomez, Milos Kerkez, Federico Chiesa, Trey Nyoni, Kieran Morrison, Rio Ngumoha, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Will Wright.

With Hugo Ekitiké and Mohamed Salah also sidelined, Slot again adjusted his selection. Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong are all capable of filling the right-back role for Liverpool, while Szoboszlai and Frimpong have also been used further up the right flank. Cody Gakpo is expected to resume an unloved central striking role, though Slot could deploy Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai in a dual-false-nine setup he used sporadically last season.

First-choice goalkeeper Alisson did not overcome his fitness issue for the trip, and with Giorgi Mamardashvili also unavailable, Freddie Woodman started in goal once more.

At this late stage of the season a relatively minor muscle strain can end a campaign, and with a World Cup on the horizon there is added incentive for players and staff to take a cautious approach to rehabilitation and recovery.